The SISD Transportation Department has taken a key role to ensure students have the resources they need to be successful in the Remote Learning Academy, which was established during the school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve been delivering 130-150 packages from different campuses,” said transportation coordinator Jacqueline Gutierrez. “Depending on the grade level, they all have different things that pertain to them per their teachers from Pre-K to high school.”
Working day in and day out, the transportation team has been delivering packets with schoolwork to students’ homes while taking precautionary measures to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
As of April 29, SISD transportation employees had delivered more than 5,000 remote learning packets to student homes.
The transportation department has been coordinating with campuses and academic teams to pick up the packages at the schools and then delivering them to SISD students.
The employees have been using social distancing precautions to reduce contact, such as wearing masks and gloves and leaving the packages at the doorstep.
The transportation employees will call the parents to let them know the packages have been delivered.
In addition to delivering remote learning packets, transportation employees have been capitalizing on the closure to ensure all SISD buses are repaired and maintained. The mechanics, and other transportation employees who are crossed trained to do repairs and maintenance, have been busy working on the transportation fleet while also practicing social distancing.
“Right now, we cannot have groups of more than 10 people at a time,” said fleet coordinator Eddie Lizarraga. “We split our mechanics in two shifts working five hours per shift.”
The teams have been divided to work a morning and afternoon shift to ensure minimal contact, as directed by state and health authorities, and to complete the necessary work. Despite the challenges of the times, the transportation employees have kept a positive attitude and have been doing everything possible to help.
“With everything that has been going on, it has really shown everyone’s true colors. Everyone is here as a team to help each other regardless of anything,” Gutierrez said. “We have all been here to help each other, from custodians and transportation to teachers and police services. It’s been great, that is why we’re Team SISD!”
